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The ice storm deprived many homes of power for days, forced some residents to evacuation centres and made certain roads impassible as work crews struggled to clear fallen branches.

Some of the recommended changes to the plan, which is designed to provide key officials, agencies and departments with an overview of their responsibilities during an emergency, include giving the Regional Chair the ability to appoint an appropriate member of council to attend the Emergency Operations Centre and perform the duties of the Regional Chair in circumstances where the chair is unavailable.

In a report to council Director of Legal Services Bob Gray said the ice storm illustrated that at times it may prove difficult and/or unsafe to travel from some parts of the Region in order to attend the Regional Emergency Operations Centre.

The report also determined that having pre-established evacuation facilities for residents who have been forced to leave their homes would improve the ability to have these centres ready on short notice.

Gray noted that Regional staff are consulting with the local municipalities to identify one possible facility in each municipality as an evacuation centre.

They will also determine what improvements may be necessary for each (e.g. generators), and establish an implementation program.

Once these facilities have been identified staff plans to report details of the implementation program to council and then let the public know once these evacuation centres have been designated.

With Halton’s rural communities experiencing prolonged power outages as a result of the ice storm the Region has created additional educational materials to help rural residence deal with the unique challenges they face during such emergencies.

The material, which is available on the Region’s website, includes information on caring for livestock during a power outage, staying informed about the developing situation, and stockpiling essential supplies prior to the emergency.